Most Popular Comic Artists and Their Stories

Comic artists have definitely carved a space for themselves in popular culture. This is especially true now that their work has become materials for action blockbusters.

It’s time to look into the lives of some of our time’s most popular comic artists…

John Romita Jr.

He is the son of John Romita Sr., the comic artist who co-created two Spider-Man stories in the 1960s and 1970s. Romita Jr then left his own legacy by creating Hobgoblinand a Spider-Man issue wherein the hero had to face off with Juggernaut. He also rose to popularity for his work on Kick Ass with Mark Millar and his drawing for Iron Man.

Romita Jr said that in designing characters or writing stories, he needs help from the writers. The writers usually help him come up with the names of his characters and some information about such characters before he can design them. After settling with names, he goes right into clothing designs and fashion magazines to see the latest fashion trend.

He also considers the function of the characters’ costumes. He also admitted that his works are derivatives from previous characters or fashion designs. In creating stories and characters, he just wings it and follows how his mind reacts to what he has created.

Brian Bolland

He designed 2000AD and Judge Dredd. He also worked on Batman:The Killing Joke.

According to an interview, Bolland creates illustration 100% digitally, except for the fact that he uses a series of color washes in different textures and colors, which are scanned and stored on the computer.

He likes using the computer to make time-consuming things such as mixing colors, masking artwork, washing equipment, and similar tasks quicker and easier to accomplish. He prepares for a job by looking at the story proposal and the character designs.

Dave Gibbons

He worked on IPC’s Tornado, often lauded as his best work. He also served as the art director for 2000AD. He produced Watchmen with Alan Moore in the 1980s.

He once said in an interview that as a comic artist, he has to draw things the same way from different angles, which is why references are necessary. He uses the Internet and the pictures of New York City, Google Street View or Google Earth to help enhance his comic work and improve its texture.

Steve Dillon

He drew the first title story of the first Hulk Weekly issue for Marvel UK, before moving on to Nick Fury. He also worked on The Preacher, which has become one of the most popular comic series of this generation.

When asked what the most difficult part of working on superheroes is, he said that it was mostly drawing costumes. He also said that he has become some sort of an expert in drawing people vomiting with his work on Preacher.

I used to have comics owned by all of these guys when I was younger.

Same. They were pretty hilarious.

I’m finished being an adult. If you need me, I will be in my blanket fort reading comic books.

These are only some of the popular comic artists of our generation who have managed to produce work that has influenced comic book trends in general. Knowing how their artistic process goes is one way of understanding their work in another perspective, too.